Adrienne Mayor Quotes

Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.

Any period is fascinating: the more ancient, the better.

The tasks of paleontologists and classical historians and archaeologists are remarkably similar - to excavate, decipher and bring to life the tantalizing remnants of a time we will never see.

I love anything to do with history.

I keep being surprised by the amount of archaeological sites and features that are left to find all over the world.

Archaeologists are underpaid publicity agents for deceased royalty.

My films have a lot of historical context; I'm a huge fan of ruins. You see a lot of ruin work in my movies, I like ruins.

I was about 40 when I got a glimmer of the wonders archaeology can offer, and I want kids to be able to have that for their whole lives, not just in middle-age.

With sharpen'd sight pale Antiquaries pore, Th' inscription value, but the rust adore. This the blue varnish, that the green endears; The sacred rust of twice ten hundred years.

I do love these ancient ruins. We never tread upon them but we set Our foot upon some reverend history.

Historical science is being left in the dust.

The Thames could be thought of as England's longest archaeological site, and no fewer than 90,000 objects recovered from its foreshore are in the collection of the Museum of London, whose 30-year relationship with London mudlarks is both committed and highly regulated.

The most basic task of any museum must be the protection of works of cultural significance entrusted to its care for the edification and pleasure of future generations.

I knew I never wanted to become an archaeologist. But at school I became intrigued by what people were doing on an everyday basis in the past.

Students of American glass must always keep in mind that the creations they collect are truly examples of our American culture... and thus have historical significance.

I spent most of the '60s, when I was starting to try to write novels, living and working in Greece and Turkey. These are countries where the ancient past is interfused with the daily present, and I remember being struck with wonder at the constant sense of continuity and connection, the reminders that lie in wait for you at every turn.

I have a long view of history - my orientation is archaeological because I'm always thinking in terms of ancient Greece and Rome, ancient Persia and Egypt.

It is very difficult to hang onto the relics of history.

Saddam Hussein was fascinated by ancient Babylon and Assyria. He made money available to protect and develop the great archaeological sites. The great achievements of Mesopotamian civilisation were pressed into the service of the Ba'athist regime.

I would really love to go on an archaeological dig.

I am intrigued by inanimate objects. They're a piece of history, someone's statement and ideas of life.

One of the things that I love to do is travel around the world and look at archaeological sites. Because archaeology gives us an opportunity to study past civilizations, and see where they succeeded and where they failed. Use science to, you know, work backwards and say, 'Well, really, what were they thinking?'

These places, and the ancient things you know, You won't know soon. I'm working on it now.'

A walk through the storage facility of the community museum where I worked might easily have convinced you that people in the past wore only wedding dresses, carried silver candlesticks, and played with porcelain dolls.

Much has been said and continues to be said of what little concern the Turks had for the Acropolis treasures.